Basketball game and court

ABSTRACT

A games playing area or court which has a floor surface for playing the game on, surrounded substantially continuously by a flexible wall portion and optionally a flexible roof portion, from all of which the game playing piece may be rebounded in play so as to continue the game. A goal scoring device or area is located within the confines of the games playing area and is common to all of the participants in the game thereby overcoming the requirement to have separate goal areas for each person or team. The goal scoring device is preferably centrally located in the court which is supported externally so as not to present an obstruction to the game. The game playing area is portable and may be assembled/disassembled.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a game. In particular the presentinvention relates to a ball game that may be played indoors, and to acourt for playing the game on. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to a modification of the game of basketball that may be playedon a smaller court, particularly a court located indoors.

Although the present invention will be described with particularreference to an adaptation or modification of the game of basketball, itis to be noted that the scope of the present invention is not so limitedand may extend to include all manner of other games, particularly ballgames that can be played in a similar way using a similar court andequipment.

The game of basketball is usually played on a court which has goals atboth ends of the court; each team throwing to and for goals at one endonly which is alternately changed over to the other end at the beginningof each period of play. As both respective goal areas are spaced apartfrom each other, play occurs between them to more or less degree, butthe majority of time play is located in the immediate vicinity of one orother of the goal areas. The area toward the center of the court is usedonly for traversing between ends and occasionally in play.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Therefore, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a game,particularly an adaption or modification of basketball, in which theplay area is utilized in a more efficient manner so that all of the playarea of the court is used to a more or less equal amount. This aim isachieved in part by having a centrally located goal scoring area whichis thrown to or at by both of the competing teams.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided agames playing area for playing a game with a game playing piece, saidgames playing area comprising substantially planar floor playingsurface, a wall portion being at least in a major part a flexiblebarrier means for rebounding the game playing piece into play, and agoal scoring region being located within the games playing area at alocation spaced from the wall portion wherein said barrier means ishaving adjustment so as to alter the size of the games playing area andthe tension for rebounding the ball into play.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided acourt or area for playing a game comprising a planar playing surfacehaving a boundary to delimit the area of play defined at least in amajor part by a flexible barrier means, said flexible barrier meansbeing used to substantially contain the game within the defined playingarea when played, the court being arranged such that the barrier meansforms part of the playing court and is used to return the game playingpiece into play, said barrier means being adjustably connected to asupport means to locate it in place and to maintain tension therein, andwherein there is a goal scoring region located in the court and spacedfrom the wall portion.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the flexible barrier meansis substantially continuous around the boundary of the playing area soas to define the walls of the court. In another embodiment the flexiblebarrier means includes a top cover extending over the playing court todefine a playing surface, which in use may be used for returning thegame playing piece into play. The top cover additionally covers the goalscoring region.

Typically, the planar playing surface is rectilinear, preferably asquare floor.

Typically the games playing area is in the form of a tent-like structurehaving support from outside the perimeter of the planar playing surface.Typically, the tent-like structure comprises a roof portion and a wallportion. Typically, the roof portion is separate from the wall portion.Typically, the wall portion defines a cuboid-like playing area.Typically the roof portion has a central part located at the higherelevation than the perimeter portion arranged so that there is a slopefrom the central part of each of the perimeter portions in apyramid-like manner.

Typically, the goal area is centrally located above the central area ofthe planar playing surface, and underneath the central part of the topcover having the higher elevation. Typically there are two sets of goalscoring baskets located back to back to each other. Typically, the twosets of baskets are separated by a backboard, preferably two backboards.Preferably, one set of goal scoring baskets are in use at any one time.

Typically, each basket set comprises a main scoring basket and at leastone, preferably two, auxiliary scoring baskets. Typically the mainscoring basket is located intermediate the auxiliary scoring baskets,and the main scoring basket is of a smaller size than are theauxiliaries or is harder to score through than the auxiliaries.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of example withparticular reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of a game playing court inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another form of the game playing court;

FIG. 3 is a floor plan of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view along line A--A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the area denoted by circle 5of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the area denoted by circle 6of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a face-on view of one form of the score board, backboard andbaskets for use with playing a game in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the drawings there is shown a game playing court or playing area,generally denoted as 2 for playing a game that is an adaptation of therules of the game of basketball. The court comprises a floor playingsurface, a wall playing surface and a ceiling or roof playing surface.One major modification of the rules as applied to the game of thepresent invention is that the basketball may be rebounded from the sidewalls and top cover or roof of the court as well as from the floor.Thus, the flexible barrier which surrounds the court forms the sidewalls and top cover of the court in the described embodiment is part ofthe playing surface of the game.

More particularly, as shown in the accompanying drawings, the gameplaying court 2 comprises a game playing floor surface 4, of typicallysquare shape, such as for example 8 m×8 m size, having a centrallylocated center circle floor portion 5, typically of 3 m diamter. Thecolor of the center circle 5 is preferably of a contrasting color to theremainder of the floor surface 4. Walls 6 of mesh material form theperimeter or boundary of the court and act as a flexible barrier forreturning the basketball into play. The mesh material is preferably madefrom synthetic polymeric material, but any suitable material may beused, including one or more walls 6 being made of a solid material, suchas with the walls or normal building construction.

A score board arrangement 8, which is described in more detail later inthis specification, is centrally positioned at a suitable height abovethe center circle 5 and aligned to lie along one or other of the linesjoining two opposite corners of the playing court. In one embodiment thescore board is supported from two of the rafters 26 spanning or bridgingover the court from one corner to the opposite corner. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the score board 8 is aligned along the diagonal joining to twocorners along the line A to A.

An upstanding support pole 10 is located adjacent the corners of theplaying floor 4, slightly spaced outside the boundary or perimeter ofthe playing area defined by mesh wall 6. Each support pole 10 ispositioned so as to be aligned along the respective lines joining thecenter of the center circular floor portion 5 to each of the corners ofthe court as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the support poles are spaced apartfrom the mesh wall and the playing area and do not intrude into thecourt. The support poles are provided in order to support the mesh wallwhich is releasably secured to the support poles by means of tighteningor tensioning chains 18. The support poles also provide support for atop cover 30 also made of suitable mesh material.

Longitudinal pockets 12 (FIGS. 5 and 6) extending from ceiling and floorare provided in the mesh wall 6 generally at positions adjacent supportpoles 10 in use. There are four such longitudinal pockets. A corner post14 is located within each pocket 12 in use, the corner posts extendingfrom slightly above the floor playing surface 4 to slightly below thelowermost portion of the top cover 30. Each corner post 14 receivedwithin pocket 12 is connected to its respective support pole 10 by threechains 18. The three chains 18 are located at the upper end, the lowerend, and at an intermediate location of each post. One end of each ofthe chains 18 is fixedly secured to the corner post and one of the linksof the chain at a suitable length is received in a suitably shaped orcomplimentary shaped slot 16 arrangement. A typical slot arrangement isstepped slot 16 provided on the support post. The stepped slot 16 has arelatively narrow portion and a relatively wide portion so that thelinks of the chain 18 may pass freely through the wide portion in orderto adjust the distance between the corner post and the support pole,which in turn adjusts the tension applied to the mesh wall. Therelatively narrow portion is used to retain the chain in place bypreventing the links which are wider than the narrow portion from movingthrough the slot in the direction toward the corner post. Thus, by thismeans the mesh wall may be adjusted and have different tensions appliedto it.

Each side wall 6 of the court is provided with an apron of canvas orlike flexible material, including synthetic materials, to fill in thegap between the playing floor 4 and the lower edge of wall 6 and alsobetween the top cover 30 and the wall 6 so as to provide a continuousbarrier where the wall meets the floor on the one hand and where thewall meets the top cover on the other hand. The pockets 12 may also bemade in the canvas aprons such that the corner post is held from aboveand below. In this case the pockets need not extend longitudinally.

A tubular elbow 2 having two arms 22, 24 angularly inclined to eachother is located at the top of each of the support poles. The top of thesupport pole 10 is received in arm 22 whereas a roof rafter 26 orsimilar roof support is received in the other arm 24. The roof rafter 26spans the top of the playing court from one corner to a locationimmediately above the center of the center circle 5 where it is joinedto the other rafters. Hooks 27 are provided along the lengths of rafters26 at spaced apart locations so as to provide anchoring points for themesh top cover 30 of the court. The corner posts 14 received in thepockets 12 of the mesh wall are suspended from the rafter 26 by means ofchains 29 which are securely fixed at one end to the top end of post 14and releasably secured at their other end to a slider 28 connected torafter 26 so as to be slidably adjustable.

The four rafters 26 meet at a common point above the playing surface asdescribed. One typical arrangement is a regularly spaced four-armedelbow joint. The locations of the attachment points of the chains to therafters are slidably adjustable by altering the position of the end ofchain 29 in slider 28.

The base of the court comprises planar playing surface 4 which, in oneembodiment may be tongue and groove treated pine flooring coated with asuitable surface coating, such as for example a long wearing durablepolyurethane. The playing surface 4 is raised above the floor of thestadium or similar building by suitable means such as, for example,joists. The apron interconnects the pine flooring and the lower end ofpost 14.

An access hatch (not shown) or other suitable means allowing the playersentry to and exit from the court is provided in one or more of the meshwalls 6. The access hatch is typically provided with releasably securingmeans so that the mesh wall 6 may be substantially continuous in theregion around the access hatch.

The court described is portable and may be assembled or disconnected atwill should the space it occupies be required for some other purpose.Since there are no fittings which are located within the court playingarea and which are permanent it is possible to convert the court forplaying the game of tthe present invention to another use merely byremoving the mesh wall and rolling it up and, if required, removingpoles 10.

A typical score board arrangement 8 is shown in FIG. 7, and comprises abackboard 34 and an electronic display portion 32. The backboard islocated at a lower level from the display portion. The backboard orlower portion 34 is provided in the described embodiment with threescoring baskets 36, 38, 38, each comprising a sensor means, a hoop orring and a net depending from the hoop or ring. The baskets are arrangedsuch that basket 36 is centrally located between two outside baskets 38,38. The diameter of the hoop of basket 36 is smaller than the diameterof the hoops of baskets 38 which are substantially the same size.

A trip lever (not shown) is provided adjacent and slightly below thebaskets so that each time a basket ball passes through one of thebaskets, the lever is moved to control suitable circuitry to register asuccessful throw and adjust the score board accordingly. In one form ofthe game a goal is registered on the score board as two points when thebasket ball is thrown through the central basket 36 whereas a singlepoint is obtained and registered on the score board if the basket ballis thrown through either of the outer baskets 38. Typical dimensions ofand a typical layout of the score board is shown in FIG. 7. Thebackboard is typically a clear Plexiglas or other suitable material.

One form of the rules of the game played on the court in accordance withthe present invention will now be described.

Each team shall consist of 2, 3, 4 or more players. The teams shall begraded by age, sex and skill for competition play. Top skill can bedenoted as 1, then lesser skills ranging from 2 down to 10.

Typical grading includes Teams shown as thus:

(a) Grade A being open in Mens and Womens;

(b) Grade B being over 18 years in Mens and Womens;

(c) Grade C being over 16 years in Mens and Womens;

(d) Top Juniors over 14 years in Mens and Womens;

(e) Juniors 10 years, 11 years, 12 years, 13 years.

(A 1 M)-(B 3 W)-(JUN 11 Boys)

Typical handicaps may be that if one higher Grade Team wishes to play alesser Grade Team, then for each player of the lesser Grade team allow ahandicap of six points per Grade per player, e.g. Grade B Skill 2 Teamwith three team members called Blue wishes to play a team of Grade CSkill 3 with three team members called Red. Grade B to C=six points perteam member. (Three team members=eighteen points). Skill 2 to 3=sixpoints per team member (three team members=eighteen points). Therefore,Handicap=36 points to the Red Team for the match of 12 points per set.

The Court

A typical court may include the following features:

(a) The court floor 4 may have a timber or similar surface;

(b) the court floor 4 dimensions may be 8 m×8 m square;

(c) the inner circle 5 in the center of the floor may be 3 m in diameterand be of a darker or lighter contrasting color than the remainder ofthe court floor;

(d) the mesh wall 6 around the court may extend from the floor to aheight of 3 or 4 m;

(e) the mesh wall 6 shall be tight and pulled taut around the court andhave a mechanism to tighten it, such as for example chain 18 and slot 16previously described;

(f) the net over the top of the court, i.e. top cover 30 shallcompletely cover the court and be taut;

(g) the serving lines shall be one meter long and be at right angles tothe plane of the backboard 34 and be 1 m from the outside edge of theinner circle.

Typical Scoring Baskets

There are three baskets for each side.

The three baskets are in line and their dimensions are:

(a) height from floor 4 of court to top side of baskets frame--3 m;

(b) the inside dimension of the two outside baskets 38 is 500 mm and theinside dimension of the center basket 36 is 450 mm;

(c) the net of the baskets shall enclose each frame and have a drop ofnot less than 500 mm;

(d) each basket shall have a trip switch connected to the score board 8for automatic scoring.

The Backboard

The backboard 8 shall be fitted into a steel frame which shall have thefollowing dimensions: length 2.3 m and height 0.5 m.

The backboard 34 shall be formed from clear Plexiglas 25 mm thick.

The Score Boards

The present game score board shall show from each side, the results ofall baskets in each set, one, two and three. Plus the cummulative scorefor each team and an elapsed time clock.

The resting game score board shall have a memory and hold score untilrequired for the next set on the present game score board.

The Game

The two teams of 2, 3, 4 or more players each, play with a regulationbasket ball.

Object of the game is to score points by putting the ball into thescoring nets.

The two outside nets give a score of one point, the center net gives ascore of two points.

Each match is the best of three sets.

Each set has a playing time of 14 minutes with a one minute rest period.Then a one minute period is provided for entry onto the court and tostart the next set of the game.

So each match can have a total elapsed time of 45 minutes with an oncourt time of 42 minutes.

The game starts by one team member serving from the serving line.

This serve of the ball by throwing must bounce off any wall 6, top cover30 or off the floor 4 before any other player touches or catches it(otherwise another serve by the same player), (if this happens more thantwice, a free non-scoring throw is given to the offending team).

All shots at the baskets must be from outside the inner circle.

The ball is in play all the time and cannot go out of play unless:

(1) a "score" is made (then the opposing team serves next);

(2) a "progression" means more than one step and pivot is made by anyplayer with the ball (then a free non-scoring throw is given to theother team);

(3) any pushing or shoving by any part of the body to any part of anyother player's body (then a free non-scoring throw is given to the otherteam);

(4) no kicking of the ball (a free non-scoring throw to the other side);

(5) holding the ball for more than four seconds without throwing (a freenon-scoring throw to the other team);

(6) any player with more than four infringements must leave the courtfor the remainder of the set;

(7) any team with more than six infringements must have the player withthe most infringements leave the court for the remainder of the set.

The game should have an umpire who manages the game from outside thecourt.

The team with the highest score wins the game.

The described arrangement has been advanced merely by way of explanationand many modifications may be made thereto without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention which includes every novel feature andcombination of novel features herein disclosed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A court for a ball game comprising asubstantially planar floor surface, a wall portion which at least inpart comprises a barrier and a goal arranged so that the barrier formsat least part of the boundary of the area of playing the game and whenstruck allows for rebounding of the ball into play, and a goal structurelocated generally centrally of said floor surface and above the floorsurface to enable unimpeded access beneath the goal structure, andwherein the goal structure includes a fixed rigid back board rebound andfirst and second goal targets located on opposite sides of the barrier.2. A court according to claim 1 in which the wall portion which at leastin part comprises a flexible barrier forms a substantially continuousboundary around the perimeter of the games playing area.
 3. A courtaccording to claim 2 in which the flexible barrier comprises a roofportion covering the games playing area so as to define a substantiallyclosed space in which the game is played, said roof portion being abovesaid goal structure.
 4. A court according to claim 3 in which the wallportions are supported externally to the games playing area by supportpoles.
 5. A court according to claim 2 in which the flexible barrier isof a mesh or net-like construction.
 6. A court according to claim 5 inwhich the wall portions are supported externally to the games playingarea by support poles.
 7. A court according to claim 5 in the form of atent-like structure, said tent-like structure being supported externallyby support members located adjacent each of the corners thereof andsuspended from roof rafters overlying the structure.
 8. A courtaccording to claim 7 in which the goal structure includes secondary goaltargets, said secondary goal targets requiring a lesser degree of skilland accuracy to score than for said first and second goal targets.
 9. Acourt according to claim 7 wherein said floor surface is square and saidflexible barrier lies in a plane which includes a diagonal of saidsquare floor surface.
 10. A court according to claim 2 in which the wallportions are supported externally to the games playing area by supportpoles.
 11. A court according to claim 1 in which the barrier comprises aroof portion covering the games playing area so as to define asubstantially closed space in which the game is played, said roofportion being above said goal structure.
 12. A court according to claim3 in which the wall portions are supported externally to the gamesplaying area by support poles.
 13. A game adapted for playing on a courtaccording to claim
 1. 14. A court according to claim 1 in which the wallportions are supported externally to the games playing area by supportpoles.
 15. A court for a ball game comprising a substantially planarfloor surface, a wall portion which at least in part comprises aflexible barrier and a goal arranged so that the flexible barrier formsat least part of the boundary of the court to limit the area of playingthe game and when struck allows for rebounding of the ball into play,and a goal structure located generally centrally of said floor surfaceand above the floor surface to enable unimpeded access beneath the goalstructure, said flexible barrier forming a substantially continuousboundary around the perimeter of the games playing area and being formedof a mesh or net-like construction in the form of a tent-like structuresupported externally by support members located adjacent each of thecorners thereof and suspended from roof rafters overlying the structure;wherein the goal structure includes a barrier and first and second goaltargets located on opposite sides of the barrier and secondary goaltargets, said secondary goal targets requiring a lesser degree of skilland accuracy to score than for said first and second goal targets.
 16. Acourt according to claim 15 including adjustment means operable to alterthe tension in the flexible barrier, said adjustments comprising aflexible member and slot arrangement, said flexible member extendingfrom a movable support member to a fixed support member, such that theflexible member is fixedly secured to the movable support element andreleasably secured to the fixed member, said slot being provided in thefixed support member to retain the flexible member.
 17. A courtaccording to claim 16 in which the flexible member is a chain and slotarrangement is a stepped slot having a relatively narrow portion and arelatively wider portion, said chain capable of freely passing throughthe wider portion and said chain being retained by the narrower portion.18. A court according to claim 16 in which the fixed support member isconnected to the roof portion at an angle by an intermediate rigidmember and the movable support member is connected to the roof portionby a flexible member.